And that tells you what, exactly? Almost nothing. It tells you that Google has not archived some entity using the name Shamus in this group.
So tell me, how do YOU know then. Do you have a better tool than Google for Usenet archives?
I agree that Google is the best for archiving, but I was not looking at Google for the information. I was looking at the message headers.
I see that you use Outlook Express. I don't know if OE has a way to view the complete message header. I use Forte Agent, where it can be done with at single keystroke.
By looking at the message header and comparing to some older posts, you can sometimes figure out who sent it. Unless, of course, they really want to remain hidden, in which case they will change the information or use a remailer or some other tactic. I am betting, in this case, that "Shamus" didn't really care that much about hiding his identity, because it seemed to fool the people that he meant to fool.
Additionally, look up Shamus in a dictionary. You'll see that the whole thing was a bit of a joke.
I'm sure that if (he who's name shall not be mentioned) is reading this, he is having quite a laugh over how (typically) silly and out-of-control the whole thing has gotten.
-- Fred